strange noise

[grumpygramps-2007]

driving my van yesterday when noticed it was struggling up a hill it normally finds no problem.anyway there was also a noise i have not heard before.when i got home i found the noise was coming out of a black pipe that goe,s from the bananna manifold to the air filter box. the only way i can describe it is it sounds like a blowing exhaust manifold but its coming out of that pipe. could it be anything to with the egr. thanks steve.

[Altransit]

Make up a blanking plate, or buy one from ebay, and blank the EGR.